Double glazing

[Jeweller]

We've had some building work done which included 4 tall slim dg panels,

3200x600. We've been told that such panels are unavailable and transoms will have to be fitted. Technical reasons were quoted re the desiccant in the space bars and the guarantees. Is this the case? Is there somewhere I could ask this question where they have the definitive knowledge? I have contacted the Glass and Glaziers Federation, but they want £120 plus VAT before they will entertain my query. We are currently in discussion with the glaziers so I would appreciate some quick news on this. Cheers

[Nick Odell]

Given the nature of your business, is there anything in the glazing specification that wouldn't be in an average specification?

Nick

[Jeweller]

Apparently there's nothing average about these slim panes. There's no requirement for bullet-proof glass either.

[Adrian Brentnall]

Conjures up images of Grand Designs 'After 3 years wait the custom-made double-glazing is finally delivered to site......'

My guess would be that panels that size might be getting into the realms of specialist manufacturers. You could always try phoning a small selection of suppliers of d/g units (not your Everests - but the guys who actually make up the units). I'd imagine that most of their work wil be with smaller units - and this may be the reason for your supplier saying 'no can do'.

I'm sure that somebody somewhere _can_ do this for you - I was quoting recently on a (stained-glass) job where the single d/g unit was 2730 x

1000 - which isn't that much smaller than yours - and the client had no trouble sourcing the d/g unit.

Did you have an architect in to design the work? It should be his responsibility to design something that's 'buildable' - maybe ask them who they had in mind when speccing the windows ?

Adrian

[Jeweller]

There is an architect involved, I don't believe he anticipated a problem here. GD did register with us when we got the design through! The building is up but the glaziers were late and we had contractors queueing behind them to get on. At which point the glaziers said we had to have transoms, ie we could not have the single pane as per drawings. Having waited so long for them to get on with the job we accepted their word. But single panes would look so much better. They want their money, fair enough, but we think we have been bamboozled into accepting their option. So I'm hunting for information.

[dom]

I've had 2300*500mm (with gothic arched tops) made up by a local glazer, for about 70 quid per unit.

But that is getting up to a size where flexing during handling may crack a unit, due to length/width ratio.

[Skipweasel]

Personally I'd find the local back-street DG place and pay them a visit. Our produced half a dozen made-to-measure K-glass toughened panels in about three days for a reasonable price.

[Mark Bluemel]

...

We've agreed that if we ever went for a Grand Designs type of place, part of the architects brief would state "no custom glazing, stock windows only"...

[Adrian Brentnall]

Yellow pages - and a few quick phone calls....? Maybe the panels need to use slightly thicker glass than standard to make them less 'flexible'.

Once they're in place then they should be safe from flexing - but installing them could be a 'hold your breath & say a prayer' moment

Panels this size exist (think office blocks / shopping malls) - you just need to find a supplier. Are you project-managing the build yourself .... ?

Adrian

[Jeweller]

Seems like that's the worry for the glaziers. I have found a manufacturer now, and local, who say they can do it. Strange, because current glazier, also local, said these panes could not be made! There is a bit of history here, lots of porkies and no-shows. So I'll be treading softly all the while making it clear that I have their number!

[Jeweller]

I've reached the point where I regard all this as entertainment. I shall return.

[Jim White]

[snip]

Your glaziers are telling you lies. There may be problems for them from their usual (cheap) source, but that is not your problem.

Units over 3m. can be awkward to source, but if you go to someone like Pilkingtons it's no problem, although the lead time can be a pain.

Hold them to the design they quoted for, even if it means they have to temporary glaze with a single plate until your units are manufactured.

Re dessicant, I would expect something like this to be Argon filled, so that is not an issue.

[Skipweasel]

I wouldn't have expected a window of that size to be an opener.

[Jeweller]

Well, I have discovered two glaziers who can make/get made these panels. Despite passing on that news, the original glazing company is currently insisting on payment for the job they have done. I await their next response with a certain degree of glee.

I'll save the news that one of these suppliers can deliver the glass for the company to fit at a date of their choosing.

Hey ho.